should I send my DD on expensive school trip?

onlyroz

I think my son's school offers a 1-night residential trip in year 5 and a longer trip in year 6. I've no idea about the cost.

I can remember when I was a child back in the good old '80s, I had a residential trip in years 5 & 6 as well.

If you can afford it then I'd certainly send your daughter - it's things like this that will most likely give her the happiest memories of her childhood.

banson

Thanks everyone for your contributions/comments.

Its interesting to see how many schools do this sort of thing in yr5 and even younger, I genuinely thought most schools just stuck to a residential in yr6, just before they left primary school.

I wouldnt even dare try and get onto the PTA, although I did help out with a school trip or two at her old school. At this school its very much a "closed shop"...mainly relatives of the teachers and teaching assistants at the school....the same names crop up on everything.....having relatives who are teachers I do understand the financial constraints that schools are under...for example my sister even has to buy pencils for her class as her head teacher rations them and they only get so many boxes per year, per class, even if the children break or lose them!...so she has regular trips to Poundland to stock up out of her own pocket.

I'm quite happy to help out with events e.g. summer fairs etc, and have done so in the past.

I'll try and talk my OH round tonight but he is a stubborn so-and-so. My DD has said she wants to go, but then she was backtracking and said she would miss us too much!

candjsmum

The primary school my children went to went on residential in years 5 and 6, Monday to Friday at at cost of £180. We made the decision when the first went that the second could go if he wanted. They are both now at secondary, years 10 and 7. DD is going on a French residential next July at a cost of £699 for 8 days and DS will be going on a history residential to France at a cost of £380 for 6 days. Both of these are extremely expensive but we will have had nearly 18 months to pay and I drop in money as and when we have any spare. We told both of them that if they went we wouldn;t have a family holiday as well and they were happy with that.
I hope you come to a decision which can please you all.:beer:

wilkies5

Just something for you to think about.

If the trip is IN SCHOOL TIME ie term time, then all they can ask for is voluntary contributions to the costs of the trip. Make a financial gesture, say £50 and then tell the school they are to make up the balance.

From where? Their PTA funds maybe. Local charities often support local schools, so expect them to assist YOU!!

Good Luck!

:T

savingmummy

As you have the money saved i would personally let her go if she wants to go.

I have all this to come....my DD is only in reception but yr 6 went away for a week mon-fri last month (been going on for years apparently) and the cost was £350 which includes cost for teachers.

I`m going to need to start saving now:rotfl: LOL!

Secondary school yr 10 do a week skiing £2k - definately a NO!!

onlyroz

wilkies5 wrote: »

Just something for you to think about.

If the trip is IN SCHOOL TIME ie term time, then all they can ask for is voluntary contributions to the costs of the trip. Make a financial gesture, say £50 and then tell the school they are to make up the balance.

From where? Their PTA funds maybe. Local charities often support local schools, so expect them to assist YOU!!

Good Luck!

:T

I thought this was only true if it was part of the curriculum and if the entirety of the trip was in school time (and so finished before 3:14 pm)

rsdiscos

I sent my son on a resdiential trip in year 2 aged 6. They went away for 2 nights and three days to Edgmond Hall a place schools in Sandwell use. It cost just over £70. He has slight cerebral palsy so I just needed to make sure his TA could attend to help him put on his splint and do a little physio. Another child had autism and his mum was eager for him to go too. Many parents thought their children were too young - I saw it as a great experience for them. I am a teacher myself and going on residentials really allowed some children to come out of their shells. My husband's a teacher to and one mum was worried about her child not eating so he posted before and after pictures of her plate on the school blog that the parents could access daily to see what the children were doing!

scooby088

The school my OH DD goes to is the same and yr 6 kids are currently on a week long trip to somewhere or another but this trip cost near £200 for the week, when DD reaches yr 6 i am affraid that we will have to disappoint DD as we cannot justify such an expensive trip. Every day there seems to be a letter asking for something or another and it does get out of hand sometimes.

jellyhead

It won't be a compulsory part of the curriculum. If they don't go on the trip they can still go to school, but won't be with their own age group. If there's more than 1 not on the trip they will probably be slotted in wherever there is space.

ellas9602

Hi Op

Anotehr vote for allowing her to go. My DD moved primary schoolsin year five and the trip helped to cement some important friendships. She absolutely loved it and still talks about it now and has all the pictures on her bedroom wall. Shes in year 10 now (has gone on most other school trips too) but is still close friends with those she bonded with on residential. It really did her good.

Can you show your OH this thread?